Top Dodgers Draft pick from every season

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have had a lot of success in the MLB Draft, especially over the past few years.

There used to be multiple amateur Drafts annually, but we're looking at picks from the Rule 4 Draft, beginning in 1965. Remember, it’s not just first-round Draft picks. This list will include the first selection in years when the Dodgers didn’t have a first-rounder.

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2024: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee High School (FL) (No. 23)
A two-sport athlete in high school, Lindsey was one of the most athletic and speediest players in the 2024 Draft class. After his football career finished in high school, Lindsey benefited from strictly focusing on baseball, becoming a fast-rising senior. Outside of his elite speed, Lindsey has a high defensive ceiling at a premium position.

2023: Kendall George, OF, Atascocita High School (TX) (No. 36)
George was perhaps the fastest prospect in the 2023 Draft, coming in with an 80-grade run tool. The outfielder could benefit from adding more muscle, but that’s expected to come as he gets older. Still, George has the ability to be an elite baserunning and can make up a lot of ground in the outfield.

2022: Dalton Rushing, C, Louisville (No. 40)
The Dodgers didn’t have a first-round pick in 2022, but the organization was pleased with its first selection in the Draft. With the 40th pick, the Dodgers selected Rushing, adding to the mini pipeline of Louisville catchers. Rushing had a breakout season at the plate in ‘22, hitting .310 with 23 homers and 62 RBIs. His 23 homers were tied for the fourth most in Louisville history and were the most for a Cardinals player since the ‘09 season.

2021: Maddux Bruns, LHP, UMS-Wright Preparatory School (Mobile, Ala.) (No. 29)
Bruns, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound high school southpaw from Alabama, went 7-0 with a 0.86 ERA as a senior, allowing just 13 hits and six earned runs over 49 innings. Bruns has a four-seam fastball that stands out, topping out at 98 mph in in his 2021 campaign, a significant jump from the low-90s the prior year.

2020: Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville (No. 29)

The Dodgers are very excited about the future and potential of their 2020 first-round Draft pick. Miller was one of the hardest-throwing arms in his Draft class.

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2019: Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane (No. 25)

Hoese fell off the Dodgers’ Top 30 prospect list as offensive struggles have plagued him throughout his career.

2018: J.T. Ginn, RHP, Brandon (Miss.) HS (No. 30)

In a surprise move, Ginn decided not to sign with the Dodgers, opting to attend Mississippi State in order to be an even higher Draft pick. Ginn was drafted in the second round by the Mets in 2020.

2017: Jeren Kendall, OF, Vanderbilt (No. 23)

Kendall struggled to find consistency at the plate throughout his Minor League career and formally announced his retirement in 2022.

2016: Gavin Lux, SS, Indian Trail (Wisc.) HS (No. 20)

Upon getting drafted, Lux became one of the top prospects in baseball and won the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year in 2019, the same year he made his Major League debut. Lux, who was drafted as a shortstop, since moved to second base after missing an entire year with a torn right ACL and LCL.

2015: Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt (No. 24)

Buehler was president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s first Draft pick with the Dodgers. After a stellar start to his career, Buehler grew into the Dodgers’ ace in 2021. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery in ‘22 and hasn’t been able to regain the form that helped him finish fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting in ‘21.

2014: Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway (S.C.) HS (No. 22)

After a few years in the system, Holmes was part of the package that helped the Dodgers land Josh Reddick and Rich Hill from the A’s in 2016.

2013: Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville (No. 18)

Anderson didn’t pan out for the Dodgers, and he retired from professional baseball in 2017. He never reached the big leagues.

2012: Corey Seager, SS, Northwest Cabarrus (N.C.) HS (No. 18)

Seager certainly did pan out for the Dodgers, especially during the 2020 World Series run. The star shortstop has won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, two Silver Slugger Awards and was named the NLCS and World Series MVP in 2020.

2011: Chris Reed, LHP, Stanford (No. 16)

Once believed to be a top pitching prospect, Reed never found success at the big league level. The Dodgers traded him to the Marlins for left-hander Grant Dayton in 2015. He played in just two games with Miami.

2010: Zach Lee, RHP, McKinney (Texas) HS (No. 28)

Lee pitched in only four big league games in his career, but he’ll always be known as the player the Dodgers sent to the Mariners to acquire Chris Taylor.

2009: Aaron Miller, LHP, Baylor (No. 36)

Miller was a two-way player in the Minors, but he was never able to make the Majors. He retired from pro baseball in 2015.

2008: Ethan Martin, RHP, Stephens County (Ga.) HS (No. 15)

The Dodgers used Martin as a trade chip in order to acquire Shane Victorino from the Phillies in 2012. Martin would ultimately play a pair of seasons with the Phillies.

2007: Chris Withrow, RHP, Midland (Texas) HS (No. 20)

He made 46 appearances with the Dodgers from 2013-14, posting a 2.73 ERA. But after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Withrow never suited up with the Dodgers again.

2006: Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Highland Park (Texas) HS (No. 7)

How much needs to be said? He’s one of the best pitchers of his generation and a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer.

2005: Luke Hochevar, RHP, Tennessee (No. 40)

Hochevar was drafted twice by the Dodgers, in 2002 and '05, but he never signed. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Royals a year later and had a nine-year career in the bigs, going 46-65 with a 4.98 ERA.

2004: Scott Elbert, LHP, Seneca (Mo.) HS (No. 17)

Elbert appeared in 127 career games, all with the Dodgers, posting a 3.54 ERA.

2003: Chad Billingsley, RHP, Defiance (Ohio) HS (No. 24)

Billingsley was a very successful first-rounder for the Dodgers. He made 219 of his 226 career appearances with Los Angeles, winning 83 games. He was an All-Star in 2009.

2002: James Loney, 1B, Elkins (Texas) HS (No. 19)

Loney spent time with the Dodgers, Red Sox, Rays and Mets in his 11-year career. He hit 108 career homers.

2001: Brian Pilkington, RHP, Santiago (Calif.) HS (No. 68)

Pilkington had a short Minor League career and never made an appearance in the Majors.

2000: Ben Diggins, RHP, Arizona (No. 17)

Diggins never pitched for the Dodgers, but he did make five starts with the Brewers in 2002. They didn’t go particularly well, allowing 23 earned runs over 24 innings of work.

1999: Jason Repko, OF, Hanford (Wash.) HS (No. 37)

Repko played for the Dodgers, Twins and Red Sox in his seven-year career.

1998: Bubba Crosby, OF, Rice (No. 23)

Crosby didn’t have much of a productive career, playing in just nine games with the Dodgers and 205 over four seasons. He finished his career with a -1.6 bWAR.

1997: Glenn Davis, 1B, Vanderbilt (No. 25)

He never made it to the big leagues.

1996: Damian Rolls, 3B, F.L. Schlagle (Kan.) HS (No. 23)

Rolls spent a couple of seasons in the Dodgers’ system, but he was claimed by the Royals in the 1999 Rule 5 Draft. He was immediately traded to the Rays, where he played for parts of five seasons.

1995: David Yocum, LHP, Florida State (No. 20)

He played a couple of seasons in the Minors, but he never made an appearance in any level higher than High-A.

1994: Paul Konerko, C, Chaparral (Ariz.) HS (No. 13)

Konerko did most of his damage in the Majors as a member of the White Sox, but it was the Dodgers who drafted him. Konerko was part of a deal that sent him and lefty Dennys Reyes for reliever Jeff Shaw.

1993: Darren Dreifort, RHP, Wichita State (No. 2)

Because the Dodgers haven’t had a No. 1 pick since 1965, Dreifort is their highest selection since then. Dreifort was a solid pitcher when he was on the mound, but the hurler dealt with a ton of injuries. He was forced to retire at just 32 years of age.

1992: Ryan Luzinski, C, Holy Cross (N.J.) HS (No. 32)

Luzinski had a couple of stints at Triple-A, but that was as far as he got in his pro career.

1991: Todd Hollandsworth, OF, Newport (Wash.) HS (No. 80)

Hollandsworth played in 12 big league seasons with various teams, but his best stretch came as a member of the Dodgers. The outfielder hit 12 homers and stole 21 bags in 1996. He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award that season.

1990: Ron Walden, LHP, Blanchard (Okla.) HS (No. 9)

He never made an appearance above High-A.

1989: Kiki Jones, RHP, Hillsborough (Fla.) HS (No. 15)

Jones was arrested and charged with insurance fraud as a Minor Leaguer, essentially ending his career. He attempted a comeback in the Minors in 1998 with the Rays, but that went nowhere.

1988: Bill Bene, RHP, Cal State LA (No. 5)

He played in parts of nine Minor League seasons, but he was never able to reach the Majors.

1987: Dan Opperman, RHP, Valley (Nev.) HS (No. 8)

The righty reached Triple-A, but he never made the Majors.

1986: Mike White, OF, Loudon (Tenn.) HS (No. 19)

He reached as high as Double-A with the Dodgers and played just one game at Triple-A in the Mets organization.

1985: Chris Gwynn, OF, San Diego State (No. 10)

Gwynn never made a huge impact at the big league level, but the outfielder served as a pinch-hitter and a bench outfielder for parts of 10 Major League seasons, seven of them coming with the Dodgers.

1984: Dennis Livingston, LHP, Oklahoma State (No. 23)

He played three seasons at Triple-A, but that’s as high as he got in the Minors.

1983: Erik Sonberg, LHP, Wichita State (No. 18)

He never made an appearance in a big league game.

1982: Franklin Stubbs, 1B, Virginia Tech (No. 19)

Stubbs played 10 seasons in the Majors, six of those coming with the Dodgers. Stubbs’ best season came in ‘86, when he hit a career-high 23 homers. He was also part of the ‘88 World Series team.

1981: Dave Anderson, SS, Memphis (No. 22)

Like Stubbs, Anderson was also part of the Dodgers’ 1988 World Series team. He played eight seasons with the Dodgers and two with the rival Giants.

1980: Ross Jones, SS, Miami (No. 9)

Jones didn’t play a single game with the Dodgers, but he had brief spells with the Mets, Mariners and Royals.

1979: Steve Howe, LHP, Michigan (No. 16)

Howe had a successful run with the Dodgers, winning NL Rookie of the Year honors in ‘80 and becoming a first-time All-Star in ‘82. His career, however, was affected by alcohol and drug abuse. He was suspended seven times in his career.

1978: Clay Smith, SS, Northwest Classen (Okla.) HS (No. 47)

He never played above A-ball.

1977: Bob Welch, RHP, Eastern Michigan (No. 20)

Before he won a Cy Young Award with the A’s, Welch was a solid starter for the Dodgers for 10 seasons. He made his first All-Star appearance in ‘80, but he found most of his career success as a member of the A’s.

1976: Mike Scioscia, C, Springfield (Pa.) HS (No. 19)

Scioscia played 13 seasons with the Dodgers, and he's one of the top catchers in franchise history. He was known for his defense behind the plate and made two All-Star teams.

1975: Mark Bradley, SS, Elizabethtown (Ky.) HS (No. 24)

He made his Major League debut in ‘81, but he played in just 17 games as a member of the Dodgers.

1974: Rick Sutcliffe, RHP, Van Horn (Mo.) HS (No. 21)

Sutcliffe played 18 seasons in the Majors and saw most of his success with the Cubs, but the right-hander began his career with the Dodgers. His best season in Los Angeles came in 1979, when he went 17-10 with a 3.46 ERA.

1973: Ted Farr, C, Shadle Park (Wash.) HS (No. 18)

He never made it to the Majors.

1972: John Harbin, SS, Newberry (No. 17)

He spent only a couple of seasons in Rookie ball.

1971: Rick Rhoden, RHP, Atlantic Community (Fla.) HS (No. 20)

Rhoden spent time with the Dodgers, Pirates, Yankees and Houston in his 16-year career. He went 151-125 with a 3.59 ERA.

1970: Jim Haller, RHP, Creighton Preparatory (Neb.) HS (No. 9)

He ever made it to the big leagues.

1969: Terry McDermott, C, St. Agnes (N.Y.) HS (No. 8)

McDermott made nine appearances with the Dodgers in 1972, but he never made it back to the Majors.

1968: Bobby Valentine, OF, Rippowam (Conn.) HS (No. 5)

Before he became a manager, Valentine played in parts of 10 big league seasons, three of them coming with the Dodgers. Valentine wasn’t much of an impact player, hitting just 12 homers in 1,698 career at-bats.

1967: Don Denbow, 3B, SMU (No. 20)

He never played above A-ball.

1966: Larry Hutton, RHP, Greenfield-Central (Ind.) HS (No. 19)

He never made it to the big leagues.

1965: John Wyatt, SS, Bakersfield (Calif.) HS (No. 8)

Wyatt played in six Minor League seasons, but he never reached the Majors.